Cindy Blodgett
Encyclopedia
Cindy Lee Blodgett is a former collegiate and professional basketball
player. She was also the head coach at University of Maine
, located in Orono, Maine
from 2007 to 2011. Cindy attended Lawrence High School
in Fairfield
, where she was an all-star basketball player. She led the Bulldogs to a four-year career record of 84-4. Throughout that four year period they won four state class A championships. Her tremendous accolades have made her a hero across the state of Maine
.
from 1994 to 1998. A four-time Kodak All-America
n, Blodgett became just the second woman in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in scoring for two consecutive seasons, averaging over 27 points per game in her sophomore and junior years at Maine. She finished her career with 3,005 points, breaking a total of 20 school records. She led Maine to its first four appearances in the NCAA Basketball Tournament
in the school's history.
Blodgett earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maine
, graduating cum laude.
After graduating from college, she was selected by the Cleveland Rockers
of the WNBA
in the first round (#6 overall pick) of the 1998 WNBA Draft
.
After spending one season with the Rockers, Blodgett was traded to the Sacramento Monarchs
, and spent three seasons with them after which she was released.
She also played for the Springfield Spirit
in the National Women's Basketball League
.
during the 1999-2000 season. In 2003-04, she ran a summer skills basketball camp in her native Maine
. And on September 30, 2005, she became an assistant coach at Brown University
.
On June 28, 2005, her hometown of Clinton, Maine dedicated a public park in her honor.
On May 23, 2007, The University of Maine named her as the new women's head basketball coach.
She signed a four year contract with her alma mater.
On September 21, 2010, Blodgett signed a two-year extension with the school that paid her $109,772 annually through the 2012-13 season. Her teams had compiled a 20-69 record over the first three years of her original contract.
On March 29, 2011, following a 4-25 season, Blodgett was released from her position as head coach.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. She was also the head coach at University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
, located in Orono, Maine
Orono, Maine
Orono is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It was first settled in 1774 and named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation. It is home to The University of Maine. The population was 10,362 at the 2010 census.- Geography :...
from 2007 to 2011. Cindy attended Lawrence High School
Lawrence High School (Maine)
Lawrence High School is a four-year public high school located in Fairfield, Maine, United States. It is a part of the Maine School Administrative District 49 and is the district's only public high school. Lawrence serves students from the four towns of Albion, Benton, Clinton, and Fairfield. . ...
in Fairfield
Fairfield, Maine
Fairfield is a town in Somerset County, Maine, United States. The population was 6,735 at the 2010 census. The town includes Fairfield Center, Fairfield village and Hinckley...
, where she was an all-star basketball player. She led the Bulldogs to a four-year career record of 84-4. Throughout that four year period they won four state class A championships. Her tremendous accolades have made her a hero across the state of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
.
Playing career
She was a standout player for the women's basketball team at the University of MaineUniversity of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
from 1994 to 1998. A four-time Kodak All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n, Blodgett became just the second woman in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in scoring for two consecutive seasons, averaging over 27 points per game in her sophomore and junior years at Maine. She finished her career with 3,005 points, breaking a total of 20 school records. She led Maine to its first four appearances in the NCAA Basketball Tournament
NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual college basketball tournament for women. Held each April, the Women's Championship was inaugurated in the 1981–82 season...
in the school's history.
Blodgett earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
, graduating cum laude.
After graduating from college, she was selected by the Cleveland Rockers
Cleveland Rockers
This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which...
of the WNBA
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
in the first round (#6 overall pick) of the 1998 WNBA Draft
WNBA Draft
The WNBA Draft is an annual draft held by the WNBA through which WNBA teams can select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players. The first WNBA draft was held in 1997...
.
After spending one season with the Rockers, Blodgett was traded to the Sacramento Monarchs
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
, and spent three seasons with them after which she was released.
She also played for the Springfield Spirit
Springfield Spirit
The Springfield Spirit was a women's professional basketball team in the National Women's Basketball League . Based in the birthplace of basketball, Springfield, Massachusetts, the team played from 2002 to 2004....
in the National Women's Basketball League
National Women's Basketball League
The National Women's Basketball League, often abbreviated to the NWBL, was an organization governing professional basketball leagues for women in the United States. The league was founded in 1997 and began play in the Fall of that year. The league used to have its own season during the off-season...
.
Coaching career
Blodgett began her coaching career by serving as an assistant coach to the women's basketball team at Boston UniversityBoston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
during the 1999-2000 season. In 2003-04, she ran a summer skills basketball camp in her native Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. And on September 30, 2005, she became an assistant coach at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
.
On June 28, 2005, her hometown of Clinton, Maine dedicated a public park in her honor.
On May 23, 2007, The University of Maine named her as the new women's head basketball coach.
She signed a four year contract with her alma mater.
On September 21, 2010, Blodgett signed a two-year extension with the school that paid her $109,772 annually through the 2012-13 season. Her teams had compiled a 20-69 record over the first three years of her original contract.
On March 29, 2011, following a 4-25 season, Blodgett was released from her position as head coach.